Book Review; Women of the Harlem Renaissance edited by Marissa Constantinou

Last year, I read the poetry and short story anthology Women of the Harlem Renaissance edited by Marissa Constantinou and today I'll post my review of the book.

Description from Goodreads

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that saw an explosion of Black art, music and writing, yet few female creatives are remembered alongside their male counterparts.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited by Marissa Constantinou and introduced by Professor Kate Dossett.

Exploring subjects from love, loss and motherhood to jazz, passing and Jim Crow law, the poems and stories collected in this anthology celebrate the women of colour at the heart of the Harlem Renaissance. Alice Dunbar-Nelson parades through New Orleans in ‘A Carnival Jangle’ whilst Carrie Williams Clifford takes to Fifth Avenue in ‘Silent Protest Parade’, and Nella Larsen seeks a mother’s protection in ‘Sanctuary’. Showcasing popular authors alongside writers you might discover for the first time, this collection of daring and disruptive writing encapsulates early twentieth-century America in surprising and beautiful ways.

My Thoughts on the Book

In my eyes, Women of the Harlem Renaissance was a neat introduction to some of the lesser known female authors of the time, as the only authors I was familair with were Nella Larson and Angelina Weld Grimké. Zora Neale Hurston was probably left out as she's a bit of a staple in a way, but that's okay as I got to enjoy some new-to-me authors.

Both the poetry and short stories were well-written in my opinion, but I just wish there were more poems and short stories to enjoy, as I thought the anthology was a bit too short. It might be just me being a bit too picky though. On the other hand, the anthology with the various texts gives food for thought, which is good.

Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read with good quality works, so I wouldn't mind recommending this to people as an introduction to women of the Harlem Renaissance.